Explosive projectile



1944- w. T. MOORE ETAL EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE Filed Feb. '12, 1941INVENTORfi Wdeq T Maor a aily Will/2:15. Tmbadeau ATTdRNEYE PatentedDec. 12, 1944 EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE Wiley T. Moore, Laverne, Okla, and

Thibodeau, Cleveland, Ohio Wilfred E.

Application February 12, 1941, Serial No. 378,582

1 Claim.

(Granted under the actof March 3, 1883, as amended April 3-0, 1928; 3700. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and usedby or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the paymentto us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to projectiles in general, and, in particular, toa small or medium arms explosive projectile and firing device therefor.In these types of projectiles, the known types of cumbersome fuses areneither necessary nor desirable and all that is required is a detonatingmaterial and simple means for initiating the same provided the firingmeans is safe in handling and storage. Due to quantity production, thefiring parts should be low in cost and easy of manufacture and assembly.

These conditions are fulfilled in they projectile of the inventionwherein a ring-shaped striker member of curved section is provided incontact with the detonating material.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a projectilehaving a curved-surfaced ring-shaped striker member in contact with thedetonating material.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction,arrangement and combination of elements described hereinafter andpointed out in the claim forming a part of this specification.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation in section of a projectile shown broken.

Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified projectile, and

' Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, showing an elevation in section of therear end of a projectile.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, there is shown inFigure 1 a jacket I surrounding a main body portion 2 having a centralbore 3.

Slidably fitted in the bore 3 and extending very nearly the full lengththereof, is a tube 4 having at its forward end an annular inwardprotuberance 5 of curved section.

Within the tube 4 is packed a main explosive or incendiary charge 6which may approach or lie partly within the restricted orifice definedby the annular protuberance 5.

Snugly fitted within the ogive is a metallic insert 1 designed topreserve the proper ballistics of the projectile and also serving as anarmorpiercing core. For this reason it should be composed of a hardmaterial. This core will pierce both by reason of its momentum and theadded with detonating material is.

impetus given by the explosive charge 6. Penetration being effected, theexplosive charge and an incendiary charge, if included, will completedestruction inside the armor plate or other target.

The detonating material 8 is placed in the space forward of the annularprotuberance 5, and partly or wholly fills the space within theprotuberance.

The shell loaded from the rear and closed by a plug 9 held by crimpingID of jacket I, although it will be understood that the plu may bethreaded into the shell, or press fit or attached by any otherconvenient means.

Ears II on tube '4, engaging in slots l2 in body 2 serve to hold thetube 4 against rotation.

The jacket and body are first assembled, the two being keyed by a crimpas at I 3. Detonating material 8 is then introduced into the nosethrough bore 3, and properly packed. Tube 4 is then inserted into bore 3to contact detonating material 8 and further detonating material isintroduced to occupy the desired amount of space within the annularprotuberance 5. The balance of the tube 4 is then filled with the maincharge.

If the detonating material i properly packed,

the projectile will be safe in storage and ordinary handling and undersetback on firing. On impact, however, the tube 4 will slide forward andthe detonating material will be crushed between protuberance 5 and theforward portion of the-shell and thus set off.

Safety is assured in part by the smooth contour of the annularprotuberance 5 which requires heavy impact to set off the detonatingmaterial.

In Figure 2 is shown a shell wherein the sliding tube has been shortenedto comprise only a single inwardly curved ring I 4. This ring rests on ashoulder I5 of the body 2 of the projectile. This ring will be insertedinto the body 2 before the jacket is mounted. However, if a split ringis used, it may be inserted from the rear after the jacket is mounted.It may also be keyed to the body 2.

The ring-shaped member or annular protuberance may have any other curvedshape in crosssection such as circular, for instance.

In Figure 3 is shown the rear portion of.a bullet having the firingelements in the base. The annular striking ring l6, shown in thisinstance as semi-circular in cross-section, is placed in a bore I! atthe base of the projectile, in contact In the forward portion of thebore is placed a centrally perforated metal disc [9 disposed against ashoulder 20 between bore l1 and a smaller bore 2] housing the maincharge 22. The disc l9 which may be of a hard material similar to thecore 1 serves as a solid backing for soft material of the body 2, andalso serves as a partition between the detonating material and the maincharge although a partition is not strictly necessary, and perforation23 may be as large as bore 2|.

The modification of Figure 3 shows the general applicability of thefiring mechanism of the invention to base type ignition. In particular,this modification lends itself readily and appropriately to use in anexplosive projectile with con ical recess in the impact region of theexplosive charge of the type shown in British Patent No.'

It will be understood-that the base closure plate 24 shown in Figure 3must be of sufficient strength and thickness to avoid any danger ofdetonation due to the force of the propelling gases.

We claim: e

A projectile having a central chamber, a main charge and a detonatingcharge in said chamber, a ring shape striker member surrounding saiddetonator charge and in contact therewith and resting on the rear faceof said chamber, and solid means in the path of movement of said strikermember to limit its forward movement upon impact of the projectile.

WILEY T. MOORE.

WILFRED E. THIBODEAU.

